Vermont and U.S. Electricity Sources

Discussions of energy use and conservation in Vermont would be greatly enhanced if the Burlington Free Press and other media frequently published a sidebar of information about energy use in the U.S. along side the same data for Vermont. These facts would frame the discussion and debate on some real information which would add perspective for readers and writers. Accurate information may be tough to obtain for Vermont, but probably is available to the researchers at the media. The first two tables are courtesy of The Energy Advocate , a publication based in Pueblo West, Colorado. The third is from the 2005 Vermont DPs Electricity Plan. Even more helpful would be data on the average cost per kilowatt-hour for each source. Without this basic information, rants often take over rational thinking.

United States Electrical Energy By Source

Coal	49.8%
Nuclear	19.9%
Natural Gas	17.8%
Hydro	6.8%
Oil	3.0%
Wind, solar, wood, geothermal, etc.	2.3%

To help frame the debate about wind generated electricity in Vermont, the following information would be useful:

U.S. Renewable Electricity by Source (2004)

Hydro	61%
Biomass	26%
Geothermal	7%
Wind	3%
Solar	0.14%

"Vermont Own Load Electric Energy Supply (2002)" [from 2005 Vt DPS Electric Plan]

System*	13.5%
Demand Side Management**	6.5%
Nuclear	33.9%
Hydro Quebec	32.6%
Hydro Vermont	4.6%
Oil	1.5%
Gas	1.0%
Wind, solar, wood, biomass, etc.	4.6%

* I assume 'System' means power purchased when needed for peak demands from the national power grid suppliers.


**Energy demand management is often referred to also as demand side management (DSM). Energy demand management usually implies actions that influence the quantity of energy consumed by users. It can also include actions targeting reduction of peak demand during periods when energy supply systems are constrained. Peak demand management does not necessarily decrease total energy consumption but could be expected to reduce the need for investments in networks and/or power plants.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_Side_Management

In order to build a comparable table for Vermont Renewable Electricity by Source, the 4.6% for wind, solar, wood, and other biomass need further delineation. In any event, they cannot be looked to for any serious portion of Vermont's electric supply, certainly not at low cost.

Nevertheless, considering the amount of controversy surrounding wind as a source of intermittent electricity in Vermont, we'd all be well advised to pay considerably more attention to the primary sources of Vermont's energy, i.e., hydro (from Quebec) and nuclear from Entergy's Vermont Yankee plant. Continuation of these sources are Vermont's best hope for reliable supply for the next 20 years or so. To eliminate them will come at a very high price not only for electricity, but for the health of Vermont's economy.

If Vermont is serious about dramatically increasing its instate electric supply sources, the discussion should be about the practical limits of wind, solar, wood and biomass resources compared with the demand, conservation notwithstanding.

The Department of Public Service reports these data for 2003:

Vermont's Power Supply, 2003

The following table shows how Vermont's instate electric demand was served in 2003. The Department of Public Service Biennial Report and the Vermont Electric Plan both contain a wealth of additional information about Vermont's electric supply.

Power Source Percent of Total Demand Gigawatt Hours Consumed

Vermont Yankee 35.5% 2,131
Hydro Quebec 28.2% 1,694
Other Purchase 20.4% 1,226
Instate Hydro 9.2% 554
McNeil Generator 4.9% 297
New York Power Authority 1.2% 73
Instate Thermal .6% 34

TOTAL LOAD 100.0% 6,009

A good reference site for Vermont wind power sites, existing and proposed.